Combination golf cart and golf bag



Jan. 12, 1965 R. B. COTTON COMBINATION GOLF CART AND GOLF BAG 5Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Nov. 12., 1963 PIC-3.2.

INVENTOR Robert 8. Cotton ATTORNEYS FIG.3.

Jan. 12, 1965 R. B. COTTON 3,165,330

OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO AG i all 1 m lmummln n mi lllllllllilllll!Jan. 12, 1965 R. B. COTTON COMBINATION GOLF CART AND GOLF BAG 3Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Nov. 12 1963 INVENTOR Robert B. Cotton BY Q4!ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,165,330 COMBINATION GULF (DART AND GOLFBAG Robert B. Cotton, 1503 Old Orchard Road, Media, Pa. Filed Nov. 12,1963, Ser. No. 322,949 2 Claims. (Cl. 280-41) The present inventionrelates generally to the game of golf and particularly to a combinedmeans to transport golf clubs while the game is being played and forproviding convenience and facility for storage after play.

A golf bag or some means to store and carry the players golf clubs is animportant requirement of any golf game and a full bag of golf clubsthough a necessity is a heavy burden for even a strong man to carry overa golf course. Because of the burdensome golf bags various expensivetypes of golf carts to carry the golf club laden bags have becomepopular, which golf carts make the golf bags easier to handle andrelieve the players from the strain of the heavy golf bags loaded withgolf clubs. However, there are many areas on the golf course where acart cannot be or should not be taken, such as the green and tee areas.These areas when avoided by the cart'operator require a greater amountof walking because of the necessity to detour these areas and add to thewalking distance over the course thereby detracting from the benefits tobe derived by a player using a golf cart.

An object of the present invention is to provide a novel golf cart andgolf bag formed of lightweight structure, whereby the same may bewheeled as a cart over certain areas of the golf course or may becarried as a golf bag for other areas of the golf course where a cart isobjectionable.

Another object is to provide in combination a novel golf cart and golfbag formed of a plurality of tubular members'assembled as a unitwhich'unit is as light or lighter than a standard golf bag, whereby thesame may be wheeled or carried with equal alacrity.

A further object is to provide a combined golf cart and golf bag unitframed in part of individual cells or tubes of lightweight material,such as polyethylene or like material for holding individual golf clubs,whereby the golf clubs are maintained protectively separated to eliminate contact with each other in the unit.

I Still a further object is to provide a novel golf cart and golf bagarrangement with a lightweight construction including relatively smallwheels, whereby said cart and bag arrangement is predeterminedlyso-shaped and sci-proportioned as to fit in a small storage space, suchas an automobile trunk, closet or the like.

Yet another object is to provide for greater economy in golf equipmentby providing in a single unit a golf cart with wheel means and a golfbag with a carrying shoulder strap, whereby a golf aspirant need notinvest in a cart and in a bag as separate items.

With the above and other objects in view, the invention consists in theconstruction, arrangement and combination of parts hereinafter describedand particularly pointed out in the claims, it being understood that itis not intended to limit this invention to the deails of construction.Reference for this purpose should be had to the appended claims.

In the drawings, like parts throughout the several views are given likereference numerals and are thus identified in the following detaileddescription wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a front elevational view;

FIGURE 2 is a side elevational view with the frames of the unit foldedtogether;

FIGURE 3 is a cross section view taken on transverse section line 33 ofFIGURE 1;

FIGURE 4 is a rear elevational view;

FIGURE 5 is a side elevational view with the frames of the unit unfoldedto provide an easel-like supporting effect;

FIGURE 6 is a general perspective view of the unit being used as a cart;and

FIGURE 7 is a perspective view of the unit being carried as a golf bag.

Referring to the drawings and with particular reference to FIGURES 1, 2,3 and 4, there is shown a combined mobile cart and golf club holdingunit comprised of an elongated inverted U-shaped frame A preferablyformed of aluminum tubing and a relatively shorter and wider invertedU-shaped frame B preferably formed of aluminum tubing. The frame A isformed with substantially parallel spaced legs 10 and 11, which aresuitably lapped over and secured at each of their respective ends to therear side of thelegs by means, such as bolts or rivets l2 and 13 to theside flanges of back-to-back angle support bars 15 and 16. The framelegs 10 and 11 continue upwardly into a loop handle portion 19, whichhandle portion is angled rearwardly to a minor degree in a divergeddirection from the ends of tubes 26, as best shown in FIGURE 2.

A plurality of tubes 20 are secured by suitable upper and lower retainermeans to the legs It and 11 of the frame A and substantially fill thespace between the legs. These tubes, are arranged in contiguous rows Cand D and are made of plastic material, such as polyethylene or the liketo a bead 20a on the ends.

The rows of golf club tubes are held together as a unitary structure andare positioned angularly from the base plate angle bars 15 and 16 at thebottom of the frame A and extend in a longitudinal direction angularlyupward with respect to the frame A, whereby the open ends of the tubes20 are forward of the angled handle portion 19. This provides acompletely free area over the open ends of the golf club tubes andpermits ready insertion and removal of the golf clubs from the tubes.

The retainer means for the cells or tubes 20 comprise shallow U-shapedupper and lower bars 21 and 22 each with apertured end lugs 23 and 24and 25 and 26 positioned transverse the frame A at the top and bottom.These bars 21 and 22 are relatively different in width and each embracea respective grouped row C and D of golf club cells or tubes 20 and arejoined together in superimposed position by suitable fasteners, such asbolts 27 for the bottom unit and by bolt 28 and an eyelet bolt 29 forthe top unit, see FIGURE 3. upper bar 21 of each retainer means isshorter than the lower bar 22 which is formed with spaced apertures sothe apertured end lugs 23 and 24 of bar 21 may be positioned on the bar22 over the spaced apertures therein to be secured by the bolts 27 ofthe bottom retainer means or by the bolt 28 and eyelet bolt 29 of thetop retainer means. 7

The lower bar 22 of each retainer means in turn is formed with theapertured lugs 25 and 26 at each end, which lugs anchor to a keeper bar33 formed with openings arranged to register with the apertures of eachof said respective lugs 25 and 26 and for ultimate securement by nuts 31threaded on bolts 32 extending through the back-to-back portions of thegolf tube support angle bars 15 and 16 across the bottom of each row ofgolf club tubes C and D and through the contiguous free end of the Aframe legs 10 and 11.

The upper retainer means likewise includes a keeper bar 33 secured tothe lugs 25 and 26, see FIGURE 3.

The frame B at the transverse bridge portion 35 thereof extendstransverse spaced intermediate portions of the legs 10 and 11 and ispivotally secured to the legs by hinge straps as and 37 secured to eachrespectiveleg 10 For example, the

ably wider than the frame A, the legs 38 and 39 of frame B are laterallyspaced to each side of each respective adjacent leg and 11 of the frameA and carry a wheel axle 40. The axle 40 extends through aligned axleopenings adjacent, each'free end of the legs 38 and 3% of frame 13 inthe provision of stub axle sections 41 and 42 on each of which arejournalled a wheel 44 and 45, respectively.

The axle 40 traverses the rear side of the frame A and the filler rows Cand D' of golf club tubes'and the frame B with its wheels 44 and 45 maybe swung to and from close proximity to the frame A at the hingeconnections in the provision of an easel-like support for the golf clubswhen desired. The relative positions of the wheel frame B and the golfclub carrier frame A may be held in the parked easel position by arms 46and 47 each comprised of pivot links 48 and 49 with an intermediate lockmember 50. relative to the size of the complete unit of lessthan seveninches in diameter.

- 'The links when locked into extended position make the unit mobile andpermit it to be pulled along by the handle 19, see FIGURE 6. The frame Aon either side may be provided with eyelet bolts for receiving snaphooks 51 and 52 of a shoulder strap 53. When the player approaches agreen or tee area, the unit is then picked up and carried with theshoulder strap 53 by the player over the green or tee area as shown inFIGURE 7. If a caddy prefers to carry the cart completely across theeighteen It is preferable toprovide small wheels holes on the golfcourse, the frames A and B may then be folded together.

In some instances it may be desirable to provide bag is illustrated, itis to be expressly understoodthat the same is not limited thereto asvarious changes may be made in the combination and arrangement of theparts illustrated, as will now likely appear to others and those skilledin the art. For a definition of the scope or limits of the invention,reference should be had to the appended claims. 7

What is claimed is:

1. A convertible golf club'holder having ground wheels,

and a carrying strap, said holder including a pair of inverted U-shapedframe members, the first of said members forming a handle at the topthereof, the second of said members being pivoted atthe top to medialportions of said firstmember, said .second member carrying an axle withwheels journalled' to each end thereof, transverse tube retainer barssecured to each leg of said first frame member, and a plurality ofindividual golf club holder tubes between said bars secured to each ofthe legs of said first frame member, said holder. tubes being open atthe top and diverging from the said handle at the top of said firstframe member, and tube support means transverse the bottom of the saidfirst frame memher, said support means comprising angle bars positionedback-to-back,- said bars being secured to the rear side of the'firstframe memberadjacent the free ends of the legs thereof and'said tubesextending upward from the support-bars to the front side of the; saidfirst frame member.- 7

2. A combined golf club carrier: convertible from a player moved cart toa player carried club carrier and vice versa comprising an invertedU-shaped golf club carrier frame, and providing-spaced legmembers and aninverted U-shaped wheel frame pivoted to. said club -car-' rierv frameproviding spaced legs, an axlemounted on the legs of the wheel frame, aplurality of individual golf club holding tubes mounted in transverserows in said club carrier frame, spaced transverse retainer barsintermediate the leg members of said club carrier for clamping saidindividual golf club holding tubes in said' transverse rows, tubesupport means transverse the bottom of said club carrier frame, saidtube support means being L-shaped' bars secured adjacent eachothertransverse the legs of said club carrier'frame, and means to hold saidcarrier frame andv said wheel frame in either a player cart operatingposition, or in a player elevated carrying position, said individualgolf club holding tubes extending angularly upward and forward withrespect to said invented U-shaped club carrier frame-and said L- shapedsupport bars, said carrier frame including a shoulder strap and 'saidwheel frame axle including spaced ground engaging wheels.

References Cited by the Examiner V UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,43 8 O7 8ARTHUR L. LA POINT, Primary Examiner.

1. A CONVERTIBLE GOLF CLUB HOLDER HAVING GROUND WHEELS AND A CARRYINGSTRAP, SAID HOLDER INCLUDING A PAIR OF INVERTED U-SHAPED FRAME MEMBERS,THE FIRST OF SAID MEMBERS FORMING A HANDLE AT THE TOP THEREOF, THESECOND OF SAID MEMBERS BEING PIVOTED AT THE TOP OF MEDIAL PORTIONS OFSAID FIRST MEMBER, SAID SECOND MEMBER CARRYING AN AXLE WITH WHEELSJOURNALLED TO EACH END THEREOF, TRANSVERSE TUBE RETAINER BARS SECURED TOEACH LEG OF SAID FIRST FRAME MEMBER, AND A PLURALITY OF INDIVIDUAL GOLFCLUB HOLDER TUBES BETWEEN SAID BARS SECURED TO EACH OF THE LEGS OF SAIDFIRST FRAME MEMBER, SAID HOLDER TUBES BEING OPEN AT THE TOP ANDDIVERGING FROM THE SAID HANDLE AT THE TOP OF SAID FIRST FRAME MEMBER,AND TUBE SUPPORT MEANS TRANSVERSE THE BOTTOM OF THE SAID FIRST FRAMEMEMBER, SAID SUPPORT MEANS COMPRISING ANGLE BARS POSITIONEDBACK-TO-BACK, SAID BARS BEING SECURED TO THE REAR SIDE OF THE FIRSTFRAME MEMBER ADJACENT THE FREE ENDS OF THE LEGS THEREOF AND SAID TUBESEXTENDING UPWARD FROM THE SUPPORT BARS TO THE FRONT SIDE OF THE SAIDFIRST FRAME MEMBER.